Man mauled by grizzly in Alaska recounts attack

A man who recently was mauled by a grizzly bear near northern Alaska's remote Brooks Range says he recognized the animal that left him with broken teeth and deep gash in his arm from his guide trips.

Jim Tuttle tells the Anchorage Daily News he and the hunters he guided often spotted the bear, nicknamed Buddy.

Tuttle says the animal was never aggressive toward them until two weeks ago, when he was walking along a creek and saw it charging.

He says the attack northwest of Anaktuvuk Pass lasted less than 15 seconds. When it was over, Tuttle was spitting out broken teeth and needed a tourniquet on his left arm. One of his cheekbones was cracked.

Because of dense fog, Tuttle had to wait 36 hours for a National Guard helicopter to reach him. He is now recovering at his Anchorage home.